The people of Lebanon and the County of Warren have given so much to the State
of Ohio and boundaries beyond, but one name that stands out as having "given"
of himself and shared his wealth is none other than William
Elmer Harmon.
Our story begins this week many years before the birth of Mr. Harmon.
We shall now venture back to a pioneer Warren Countian named Jedediah
Tingle. Mr. Tingle was a native of the State of Delaware, born in 1767 and
lived for a period in the Redstone country of Pennsylvania. He settled in Columbia
at the mouth of the Little Miami River about 1791.
Later, in 1797, he established a home about a mile and a half west of Lebanon;
his deed called for a total section (640 acres) of land. Sometime later he sold
one-half of his section to David Reeder for $213.33, the price
being 66 2/3 cents per acre, the exact amount Judge Symmes
paid for the land in his original patent. Mr. Reeder
established his home on the southern half while Mr. Tingle
settled on the northern segment where he died in 1827, age 61.Jedediah Tingle married Elizabeth
Reeder, a native of Virginia, the relationship producing fifteen children.
The last survivor of these children was Mrs. Asenath Wood,
widow of William Wood. Mr. Wood was a successful businessman, his endeavors including
a woolen factory (located on Mulberry Street and operated by horses walking
on an incline plane), and mercantile business. The Woods were the grandparents
of William E. Harmon, which
in turn made the pioneer, Jedediah
Tingle, the great-grand father of William
E. Harmon.William Elmer Harmon was born
in Lebanon, March 25, 1862, on the northwest corner of Mechanic and New Street.
He died July 15, 1928, at his home in Southport, Connecticut. His parents were
Lieutenant William R.
and Mary Wood Harmon. He had one brother, Clifford Burke Harmon,
who was born July 5, 1868. Their father was stationed at several remote garrisons,
which was an unsuitable place to raise children. The boys were subsequently
raised mostly in Lebanon.
Young William's early Lebanon memories inspired his motivations, which led to
his many generous philanthropic ventures. His memories and experiences of the
old reservoir, the swimming, boating, fishing, and skating were deeply etched
into the mind of the youth.
He attended Lebanon public schools and graduated in 1881. His stint at the National
Normal University was interrupted by his ambition of becoming a physician,
later transferring to Jefferson School of Medicine in Louisville, KY.
The financial difficulties of his father interrupted his medical schooling,
and so he was forced to take a job as a salesman.
His marriage to Corrine Lado in Louisville in 1883, ended in
tragedy; his wife died in childbirth fifteen months after their wedding.
Still another tragedy: Mr. Harmon's mother died in August 1884, and his father
succumbed less than a year later. The misfortunes of the family set heavily
on him, and with no professional job stability, and a minor brother to care
for; great stress was placed upon him.
Sometime later, William and his brother, Clifford,
worked together with their uncle, Charles E. Wood, in the real
estate business. Their first joint undertaking was the development of a subdivision
of Branch Hill in 1887. Expanding to Cincinnati and Dayton in their new business
proved to be a successful and prosperous move. Further expansion included twenty-six
midwestern cities that encompassed Pittsburgh, Chicago, Boston, Brooklyn, Midwood
and Flatbush on Long Island, their organization developing dramatically. Mr. Harmon again married, this time to Catherine F.
Griffiths on October 1, 1890. They made their home in Lexington, Massachusetts.
To this marriage was born one son and two daughters. Catherine Harmon
died October 5, 1948, and is buried on Staton Island beside her husband.
The Wood, Harmon Company, in 1900, was acclaimed the largest real estate operation
in the world. The Wood, Harmon Company real estate operation was concluded as
such in 1907. William Harmon continued in his capacity, maintained
the operation and took complete control of the organization.Mr. Harmon never forgot his birthplace of Lebanon. Through
his real estate profession he accumulated a fortune. His generosity and a well-developed
philanthropic plan allowed him to distribute his monies for many public needs.
If such a financial shortcoming were evident, a mysterious check would find
its way to the source. For many years checks would arrive from New York, which
were endorsed by a mysterious "Jedediah
Tingle." The checks were sent to writers of prose and poetry who were
thought to be in need of funds, to the aid of poor children, and many hundreds
more. The Children's Aid Society received many donations from this intriguing
person. The receiving of these many gifts from a person unknown was often questioned
as to whom the benefactor's identity was. This "Jedediah
Tingle" at one time announced he was carrying on a mission "to
bring smiles and tender thoughts to the great in heart in high and low places,
to comfort and cheer those who do exceptional things or suffer."
On July 19, 1928, soon after Mr. Harmon's death, the New York Times announced
to the world the mysterious benefactor was none other than William
E. Harmon himself, assuming the name of his maternal great-grandfather.
Mr. Harmon retired at the age of sixty from active work in his real estate business
in New York and devoted the rest of his life to the solution of social problems.
His generosity gave more to his hometown than any other location. One of his
gifts went to the Mechanics Institute Library of his hometown, the donation
being a large collection of new and valuable books. The books were much read
by the young people.
He proposed to set up a free public library in Warren County that was to be
centralized in Lebanon. He agreed to give in cash a sum of $3,000 and $100 annually
for ten years, with a provision there be added by the citizens of the County
$2,000 in cash and $100 annually for ten years. This was the first such proposal
in the State of Ohio.
The library located in Lebanon removed much hope of Warren Countians contributions
left by Mr. Harmon. Times being what they were almost ruled out countywide donations
for providing financial upkeep of the new venture. After a period of time and
hashing over the issues by the Lebanon Carnegie Library trustees, the town accepted
a gift of $10,000 from the Carnegie Fund, the deal being finalized by a gift
of $3,000 from Mr. Harmon. The future site of the library was a part of the
public square so the town paid nothing either for the building, furnishings,
or the site.
Harmon Park, a tract of 88 acres, was conceived and given to the citizens of
Lebanon in 1912. The park was so well received by the residents that a program
was set up on a national and worldwide park system that was so named, "Harmon
Playgrounds."
The many sites were located in Texas, Michigan, Utah, Oregon, Kentucky, Minnesota,
West Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina, Maryland, the Dakotas, Florida and Washington;
one hundred and nineteen facilities were established in thirty- two states by
1926. Ohio had its share, too many to mention in this article. Mr. Harmon had discussed with many residents and friends of
Lebanon the feasibility of a building in which athletic and indoor events could
be performed. The corner stone of Harmon Hall was laid December 12, 1912. Within
this stone was a copper box lined with asbestos, which contained many papers
and objects of the time. The hall was dedicated on November 6, 1913.
Harmon Hall is located at 105 S. Broadway, the present home of the Warren
County Historical Society. Through his Harmon Foundation, he established
the Religious Motion Picture Foundation for producing films especially designed
for church services, Sunday schools and young people's Sunday meetings. Four
such films had been distributed and received favorably. These films were not
intended as a substitute for the formal service, but as an additive. There had
been much opposition to the portrayal of Jesus in motion pictures up to this
time, but in these films he is depicted as a "living, active being, performing
his mission on earth and the portrayal arouses in the spectator feelings of
reverence." The Harmon Foundation is still active, some seventy-three years
after its creation. Through his many social gifts, William
Elmer Harmon simply returned what he had received from life.

FOOTNOTES: [a place to add additional information that you might want to submit]

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